The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-08-05

boulders. blackened by lichen. At the
end of the row of hotels you would
see a great castle-like structure of
stone and wood, of early English
architecture, spanning the road with a
graceful arch between the towers, and
then reaching backward in an irregular
mass of broad piazzas, quaint balconies,
little windows and belfries, surrounded
by green sward, and facing the sea on one
side and great tennis court of turf on
the other. This is the Casino suggested
by, but far superior to, the one at New
port.
do not know how it would be posi-
BILE to convey more impressive idea
of absolute ease, enjoyment and comfort
than to bid you to visit the Casino with
me on June or August evening. The
pure, sweet breath of the sea is coquet-
ting with the flags and broad-leaved
plants. The ocean piazza is crowded
with beautiful women slipping water
ices and chatting with their male
escorts, from whose lips the blue haze
of their burning cigars is ascending, a
well-trained band is dhcoursing sweet
est melody, and the brilliant glare of the
open windowed dining-hall within il
Eliminates the scene in splendid rivalry
with the silvery flood of moonlight that
battles the dancing surface of the
sea. Scores of those who cannot or
will not pay the moderate cost of
admission to this semi-public club are
leaning on the stone wall by the
roadside looking on at the scene here de-
scribed and drinking in the music.
From their vantage ground they can see
the ladies and gentlemen at billiards in
the parlors over the dining-room, and
they can procure that amusement that
the tender passion excites in those who
are not its victims by watching the
couples seated in the dim-lighted corri-
doris and the openings in the towers,
content to gaze upon the sea and hold
one anothers hands and surrender their
senses to the poetry of their affection
and the solitude. We shall see great
deal of these couples while we linger at
the pier, for it is courtier's paradise
the most famous match-maker's resort
in America.
The bathing beach is back of what is
called Canonchet, the farm and residence
of Ex-Governor and ex-senator Sprague,
trees and set in an emerald framing of
lawn and foliage At the foot of the
sloping park, where the turf ends and
the sand reaches into the sea, long line
of bathing-houses skirts the beach. A
plank walk leads from end to end of the
row and in front of this is chain of
tents and summer pavilions, shaded by
gay-colored awnings and filled with easy
chairs that are rented to those who wish
them. On the plank walk, in the beach
pavilions, on the sand and in the surf
you may see 1 200 or 1900 bathers assem-
bled on any fair day. Four-fifths of them
are certain to be women and half
of these will be clad in bath robes of
sort that have made Narragansett Pier
famous. Originality, taste and beauty
distinguish the beach costumes here, the
reason being that their wearers are per-
sons from the far West and from inland
regions generally who go only to this re-
sort and are continually improving upon
the fashions that had their birth here. In
the resort frequented by New Workers
bathing is at discount. The people are
accustomed to the presence of old ocean
and have had the edge of their enjoy
ment of bathing dulled by familiarity
with it. 1t is very different with the
people of the West. To them surf-bath-
ing is a novel and electric delight,
pleasure looked forward to and prepared
for all winter. Having no presidents to
follow in designing their costumes, ex-
cepting what they have seen in French
or English fashion papers or at the pier
in previous summers, they bring with
them so many and so marked oddities in
surf attire that the beach is made as
gorgeous as vast tulip bed and as gay
as a Kaleidoscope or a crazy work
pattern. The prettiest robes are often
supplemented with bows and sashes.
Some have double skirts, others are fitted
with false vests, or shirt fronts, with col
lars and cuffs and with beautiful designs
in braiding and embroidery. Here you
viii see bright red worn from the head